“Right now, in life, it feels very uneasy. And all I want is to feel like I belong. I don’t want to really disappear. I just want to be heard and seen by the people I care about.
This is young artist Samara’s commentary on her drawing entitled ‘3am Thoughts’, now permanently on display in the Codebreakers project digital gallery.
The Codebreakers project engages young people from Western Sydney in conversations about culture, identity and belonging through social media, digital platforms and art. Supported by the Western Sydney Community Forum with partners Blacktown Youth Services Association, Youth Action, Platform Youth Services and Diversity Arts Australia, the project is creating online and offline spaces where young people can build skills and strengthen networks. Project participants use their experiences, energy and collective power to make change in their community.
“My art practice critically examines and reflects my identity as a young Ghanaian migrant to Australia, incorporating traditional African metaphors and cultural symbols to evoke visual-aesthetic experiences and modes of storytelling.”
“I think with art and having the ability to reach the masses, there may be presumptions that people need to be gifted or be at the forefront of their art to have an influential impact,” Vikram Murthy, Policy and Programs Manager at Western Sydney Community Forum told The New Point Magazine.
“That’s not the case with Codebreakers. Every piece of literature or poem, drawing or painting, is created from a special place… It’s about being seen and heard, regardless of the medium,” he said.
The Codebreakers digital gallery is a treasure trove of young people’s experiences and art that spans genres. The collection expresses the innermost thoughts and emotions of its artists through film, visual art and the written word.
Emmanuel Asante’s striking visual artwork ‘Eight o’clock’ shows a young African man whose heart is pierced by an arrow, reminiscent of a Renaissance image of St Sebastian. The background of the image is covered with traditional Ghanaian symbols and motifs.
“My art practice critically examines and reflects my identity as a young Ghanaian migrant to Australia, incorporating traditional African metaphors and cultural symbols to evoke visual-aesthetic experiences and modes of storytelling,” Emmanuel said.
The Codebreakers Youth Summit, held at the PHIVE building in Parramatta, showcased young artists and included discussion panels on artistic practices as well as spoken-word poetry and musical performances.
The Codebreakers digital gallery highlights the voices of young artists, showcasing their unique perspectives through various forms of art, including film, visual art, and written word. Photo: The New Point Magazine
The Codebreakers digital gallery celebrates diverse young artists, showcasing their personal stories and creative expressions across multiple mediums. Photo: The New Point Magazine
The Codebreakers Youth Summit showcases a rich variety of artistic works, highlighting the creativity and passion of young people from all walks of life. Photo: The New Point Magazine
The Codebreakers Youth Summit amplifies the voices of emerging artists in a dynamic creative space. Photo: The New Point Magazine
The Codebreakers Youth Summit at the PHIVE building in Parramatta brought together young creatives for an engaging day of art exhibitions, discussions, and performances. Photo: The New Point Magazine
The Codebreakers gallery is a vibrant collection of art that gives voice to the experiences of young people, sparking conversation and connection. Photo: The New Point Magazine
The Codebreakers digital gallery celebrates diverse young artists, showcasing their personal stories and creative expressions across multiple mediums, including music. Photo: The New Point Magazine
Young artists share their stories through diverse forms of creative expression at the Codebreakers gallery. Photo: The New Point Magazine
“Trans family is borrowing your mother’s saris and giving them to your adopted kids.”
“These sessions allow for moments of connection, association and learning through relatable practices. Understanding and knowing you’re not alone in your experiences is a powerful feeling, which can support young people on their journey for belonging and identity,” Vikram said.
One of the panels, dedicated to the power of literature, included writers Mabel Wiles and Alexia Moller and spoken-word poet Kai Dilkhush Kaur.
Kai, who is of Sikh-Punjabi heritage, describes, among other things, the influence that queer people of colour have had on their journey of self-discovery. Their poem ‘Ode to Trans Family’ speaks of the importance of finding new ways of belonging.
“Trans family is borrowing your mother’s saris and giving them to your adopted kids,” Kai writes. “Sharing your grandparents’ clothes with your loved ones that make you feel at home. Saying I got you without saying a word at all.”
The Codebreakers approach is adaptable, using a variety of artistic mediums to express the diversity of young people’s cultural experiences.
“It’s important to know that communities of Western Sydney are not homogeneous,” Vikram said.
“They are vast, vibrant and rich in diversity. Therefore, our approach to supporting young people must have a similar approach.”
The Codebreakers project was funded by the NSW Government through the Multicultural NSW COMPACT Program. Visit the Codebreakers digital gallery here.
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